Notes                    Je suis René Coignard                1 May 2024


   For as long as I can remember, I have emphasized the importance of
   one's name in shaping their identity.  Exactly a year ago, I made one
   of the most significant changes to my life - I changed my name.  It's
   quite remarkable to think that just over a year ago, most people
   addressed me as Mikhail, but today, almost everyone calls me René,
   except my colleagues and governmental agencies.  Importantly, my
   family members have also respected my choice and call me as I wish to
   be addressed.

   Since my youth, I've found it profoundly unfair that we neither
   choose to enter this world nor select our own names.  A name, after
   all, plays a crucial role in social interactions within society.  It
   can reveal a lot about an individual, especially if it is a name they
   have chosen themselves.

   As I mentioned earlier, my colleagues and the state still use a
   different name from the one I have chosen for myself.  This is a
   deliberate choice: I do not wish to change my name in official
   documents because I find it convenient to use two names - one for
   myself, friends, and acquaintances, and another for professional and
   governmental interactions.  This allows me to swiftly switch contexts
   and understand who is addressing me and even under what circumstances
   we met.  However, in the future, when I acquire German citizenship, I
   plan to include my chosen name on my ID card, as this is possible in
   Germany.

   Although I publicly announced my name change on the first of May last
   year, I had begun using the name much earlier.  For instance, I
   registered the domain for my website at the end of November 2021, and
   upon arriving in Tbilisi last year, I immediately introduced myself
   by my new name.  It is symbolic that I chose to start my new life
   with this name, particularly because René means "reborn."

   Life also has its ironies: last year, I had a romantic relationship
   with a charming French girl named Charlotte.  We had a wonderful
   holiday together in the Svaneti mountains of Sakartvelo.  I still
   hold the fondest memories of her and am glad she was a part of my
   life.  Moreover, I had the wonderful opportunity to confess my love
   in French and, for the first time in my life, to say "Je t'aime."
   How wonderful that was!

   So, the foundation is laid, and to the question, "Is René your real
   name?"  I have confidently replied "yes" from the very first day I
   adopted it.  Interestingly, some friends and acquaintances were
   initially skeptical about my decision, but now, there isn't a single
   person in my circle who uses my old name when addressing me.
   Changing my name turned out to be less of a challenge than I had
   anticipated; nonetheless, I invested five years of creative effort
   into this decision.  And I am infinitely pleased with the result -
   truly, I couldn't be happier.





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